Lukaku failed to register a single shot at goal for only the third time this season in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Anfield, which left seventh-placed Everton eight points adrift of the Premier League's top four.

And Koeman is unhappy that the former Chelsea striker's display led to criticism from the media, who he feels do not fully understand the game.

Some former professionals also had negative reviews, with ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioning Lukaku's record in big games, but Koeman was unimpressed to see the league's top scorer singled out.

"It is a team, every individual is part of the team and the team was not good enough, but I was proud," Koeman told reporters ahead of Tuesday's match with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"What I don't like too much really is individual comments about the performances of the players after the game. I don't understand some comments, but I understand others.

3 - Jurgen Klopp is the first Liverpool manager to win his first three Merseyside derbies in league competition. Boss.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 1, 2017

"Maybe some players didn't perform at the level that maybe they showed in the last few games. Maybe, yes.

"Romelu, it was difficult. I spoke to Romelu, he was not really sharp, he was a little bit tired. That can all influence the performance of the player.

"But he's the top scorer of the league. Why now about the Liverpool game do we need to criticise Rom?

"He's a great striker, he's working hard. He's a human boy, it's not always a 10, that's football and if you don't play football, maybe you don't understand it."

Ross Barkley was another Everton player to be targeted following the Liverpool loss, with much of the post-match attention focused on how he avoided a red card for a first-half foul on Dejan Lovren.